The Labor enquirer., 1887-06-18
/ THE G. N. ".
Suggestions Concerning That
Office from Christie
Of Tacoma.
REFORMS THAT SHOULD BIZ.
Alterations That Would Ensure the
Successful Operation Of the
Knights Of Labor.
TAooxA, ". T., June /, 1887.

4AOOnA3 W. - ouo II 1901
Editor Labor Enquirer.
There appears to be q general dissatis-
faction in the ranks Of the K. Of L. more
especially on the coast. The causes are
various, perhaps the greatest being the
cool indifference displayed by the execu-
tive officers of the order. While the mem
bers are patient and willing to overlook
errors and invezt excuses in palliation of
extreme cases Of negligence, yet patience
ceases to become virtue and something
should be done to facilitate business and
remove the evils that threaten to divide
us. For there is strong undercurrent on
this coast to sever its connection with the
eastern brothers and sisters.
think the principle cause for this dis
satisfaction is the fact that the order has
outgrown the constitution, and its ma
chinery is not sufficient to manipulate it
as it should. believe that a radical
change should be made in the constitution,
and would like to see such changes made
so as to restore confidence. do not pre-
sumo to dictate what should be the changes
but l would like to offer few suggestions
for the consideration of all X. of l.. of
what / think would prove remedies. This
would perhaps lead to other ideas and we
might arrive at something definite:
l. do not believe in one. man, or au-
tocrat power. The G. M. W. should have
no powers except what is delegated by
the executive board to him. He should
preside over the executive board and ex-
ecute their will and receive salary not
to exceed $500 per day and expenses
Any member of the order should be eligi-
gible to election that has been a member
for one year whether he is member of
the G. A. or State A. or not, and should
have no vote.
2. The U. s. should be divided into at
least nine districts composed of proper
tionable population. Each district should
elect member to the general executive
board, who should be on constant duty,
and all orders issued must emanate from
two thirds of said board.
3. The d. A. should be abolished and
state assembly organized as soon as five
assemblies are organized in the state or
territory. Membership to the state should
be compulsory; the state assembly to
elect an executive board constituted the
same as the general executive board, and
under its supervision in all affairs com
promising knights outside of its own ju-
risdiction; local affairs within a state to
be settled by the state executive board
without any interference by the general
executive board; the state assembly sec
retary to issue and keep for sale all
cards, blanks, books, etc., necessary for
the operation of the local and state assem-
blies; also to collect all quarterly dues
from local assemblies within its jurisdic-
ton, and pay per capita tax to the gen.
eral assembly as required by that body;
each Legislative body to have absolute
power to legislate within its own jurisdic-
tion where it does not conflict with the
constitution or the general welfare of the
whole membership; each state assembly
to fix its representations from local assem-
blies and to elect until recalled one dele
gate to the general assembly, who should
be thoroughly instructed by said state as
sembly, and represent in the general as
sembiy those ideas alone and not his own
individual characteristics; said delegate
should be empowered by the constitution
to cast proportionable vote according
to the amount of members in good stand
ing in the state he represents, by this
method the cumbersome and expensive
delegation would be removed and as each
delegate is there to legislate for his state
and is to it responsible for his actions, 1
think it is safer system than the pres
ent; each state assembly to have coop
erative board to have sole charge of the
cooperative industries within the state,
and compulsorary tax of one dollar per
month be levied upon each member con-
tinually, starting new industries as rap
idly as possible, and, in conjunction with
other states, to formulate a comprehen-
system of distribution. ! do not think this
tax is heavy. We are not in this movement
for amusement, and we should sacrifice as
much as possible for the realization of
our principles. This tax would not e1-
clude members from contributing all they